“So the owner’s pretty cool, to have this available for his employees.”
It worked. TraceyAnn’s face split with a wide grin. “The Faire really put the town on the map. It brings in so much business, and it’s turned into a world-wide destination. He’s also been a stickler for authenticity, even though I couldn’t say where things like that car exhibit out front fit in.”
“Car exhibit?”
TraceyAnn got to her feet, her medieval skirt swishing about her legs. “Yeah, come with me.”
Lily followed her to the large windows that overlooked a large lot that during the day was filled with parked cars. At this hour it was a more of a well-lit thoroughfare for people coming or going to the tavern nearby.
TraceyAnn directed her attention to a mass of cars that she could barely make out to the left, looking out through the glass. There was a sign above that said “Steeds through the Ages: Horsepower Maketh The Man.” A floodlight shone on the cars, and in the distance, Lily could discern the shapes of horses, which she hoped were statues and not taxidermied Mr. Eds.
“Probably so the sports cars are tax write-offs, but who cares? We can forgive Simon his few eccentricities, when he’s the best employer I’ve ever had—or heard of.” TraceyAnn’s voice bordered on worship —albeit at high volume— but it was infinitely preferable to the gossip. All of a sudden her breath hitched, and Lily turned her head to where TraceyAnn was focused raptly.
“There he is, and oh, he’s with his new Security detail!”
A group of six—no, seven men had exited a large luxury SUV, no doubt parked so it would be within view of the security booth stationed right by the Staff Childcare Center. She guessed Simon was the most….the most average looking one. He was probably considered a tall man if he were standing alone, but the others dwarfed him either in height, muscular build, or both.
Simon was the only one who wore glasses, and he looked incredibly young for someone who owned such a vast enterprise. She would guess that he was maybe a few years older than she was, if that. An older man flanked the rear of the group, he was only slightly taller than Simon, and his brush cut and military carriage gave him away as someone who served the country. But the other men — they drew in attention without effort. They were larger than life, with their builds stretching out the cotton knit of their t-shirts, tapering into perfect Vs and poured into denims that clung to their muscled legs. One had long blond hair, his ready laughter proclaiming him the extrovert of the group. Two were dark haired, dark browed and exuded intensity. One had toffee-colored hair, with the face of a leading man in a Rom-com, on top of the body of an action star. But the last…
He also had a brush cut and a military carriage, like the older man. His t-shirt was cerulean blue, that seemed to be the right shade for his auburn hair. He turned at that moment, and their eyes met.
And held.
And sizzled.
Lily felt a sudden flush of warmth flooding through her body, and her mouth went dry.
Holy cow.There was something electrifying in that moment, before she reflexively broke off eye contact, the heat filling her face.
“He looked at me! Did you see that?” TraceyAnn’s voice was now a high-pitched squeal. Lily quickly composed herself as the older woman gushed. “He was definitely checking me out!”
“Did you say that they were Simon’s Security detail?”
“Yes.” TraceyAnn confirmed, still ecstatic over the encounter. Lily knew exactly how she felt. “They must be heading to Ye Olde Taverne. I heard some scuttlebutt that they come from some foreign country, but they fit right into the Medieval theme, don’t you think?”
“Er—yes.” Lily was still shaken by that look. All the men were attractive—hot, if she were honest. But that one—
It had to be part of the aftermath of being with Rey. That must be it. Her body was recalibrating to what it was like to respond to good-looking men. After spending the last few years with Rey, she had forgotten what it was like to be attracted to anyone.
That had to be it.
But…holy cow. Her heart was still racing as if she’d run a marathon, and she felt a strange, urgent pull, to the point where she had to actively concentrate on not walking out the front door and looking for the man whose eyes had seized hers and held her prisoner.
“Uh-oh, here comes trouble,” TraceyAnn muttered, the spell broken. Lily looked up as the door to the center swung open and a short, strawberry-blond girl with a round, freckled face and slightly stooped shoulders came in. She was wearing a tee shirt that read OPS STAFF and cargo shorts. Based on her and Gabe, it would seem that the Ops staff were exempt from wearing costumes. That would make sense, as she couldn’t imagine doing car repair work, or whatever Gabe did, while wearing a corset and long, voluminous skirts. Or in Gabe’s case, a tunic and tights.
“Yo, you Katie?” the blond girl said.
A quick image of a cartoon mouse trying to act tough flashed across Lily’s mind, and she shook it off, thinking it was mean of her.
“Yes, and you are —”
“Jordy.”
“Hadeez.”
Both TraceyAnn and Jordy/Hadeez spoke at the same time, with TraceyAnn rolling her eyes.
“My last name’s Hayden,” the girl said defensively.
